Various traumas to the body, such as incurred in a fall, motor vehicle accident, or any type of trauma to the chest, may result in fracture of the ribs, Pneumothorax (air in the lining of the lungs), hemothorax (bleeding in the rib cage or thorax), and damage to the heart (myocardial Contusion).

Patients with such injuries are
often admitted to the hospital under the care of a trauma
team.

In blunt trauma cases (non-penetrating), the patient may be observed and given a few simple tests, such as ECG, chest X-Ray, cardiac enzymes
analysis; and monitored for heart arrythmias and given
echocardiography.